What’s that tall, slightly shaggy lilac perennial that’s currently being mobbed by pollinators? The tubular blooms of wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) are a veritable magnet for long-tongued bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds. In fact, bees prefer it to its relative, scarlet bee balm (Monarda didyma). Bees can’t see the color red, but the light purple color of wild bergamot makes it easy for them to locate. Its common name refers to its aromatic foliage, which smells similar to that of the Italian bergamot orange used to flavor Earl Grey tea. (But don’t be fooled–tea made from this mint relative is more reminiscent of oregano than the citrusy notes of the refined English favorite.) Many Indigenous peoples utilized wild bergamot for a wide variety of medicinal applications.
Wild bergamot spreads readily by seed. It can be susceptible to powdery mildew, so good air circulation and judicious pruning will help it stay healthy in humid climates like ours. It thrives in all but the wettest soils, and loves full sun. And it’s a sure-fire way to attract scores of pollinators in mid-summer.
